Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1887-10-01
THE EncAMPMEnT At WORK.
Lengthy Reports Of Committees on
Pensions, Annual Address and
Resolutions.
Union Pacific Investigation Still Drag
gine Along Complaint From
Denver About Freight
Discrimination.

ST. LOUIS, September 39.-Ths National
Eneampment Of the Grand Army Of the
Republic assembled this morning at
O'Clock. Reports of committees was re-
sumed, the first in order being the Commit
tee on Pensions. They related their efforts
to procure liberal legislation from Congress
and the fate of the dependent pension bill.
The committee were at Washington during
the debates in CONGRESS- over the bill. 1t
was far from what they wanted, but it, at
least would have removed IL 900 veterans
from public pauper houses. They call at.
tention to the Mexican pension bill far
more liberal than the one for pensioning
soldiers in the war against rebellion. This
bill met the approval Of the President and
they were fairly stunned when, from the
same hand,
of measure Of like principle, but infinites-
imal in degree, for the veterans of the war
against treason. They appealed to the
Grand Army of the Republic, and the re-
sponse came from 300, 900 members in Ger
tain tones. The committee had, there.
fore, prepared = new pension bill. This bill
makes provision for pensions to all vster-
ans who are or may hereafter become IN.
able to earn their own livelihood; for d.
rect continuance of pensions for widows in
their own right; for an increase OF the pres
ent pittance to minor children and for faith
ers or mothers from any date Independence.
Such q law would at once remove fully
$4,000 veterans from public almehouses,
where they now rest, making them
PENs1oNERs INSTEAD OF PAUPERs,
provide pensions for fully as many more
now dependent upon private charity and
put into the general pension laws for the
FIRST time the recognition OF the principle
that pensions may be granted to survivors
of the late war without absolute proof of
disability arising from service from proof
almost impossible to procure after the
lapse of more than twenty years. The bill
is similar in general principles to that
vetoed, but the Objectionable pauper clause
is omitted, making this a disab bill y and not
dependent bill. The result OF submitting
this bill to comrades Of the Grand Army of
the Republic shows that, whatever legis-
lation some comrades desire, they
are practically unanimous for everything
contained in this bill. Whatever else may
be desirable, the committee know from
the experience of five years that any
additional legislation is only to be secured
inch by inch, after the most persistent
effort. The committee therefore rec
commend continuance OF the earnest effort
in favor OF the bill prepared by this
COMMITTEES.
COMMITTEE ON ANNUAL ADDRESS
OF the Commander in Chief endorses the
address and congratulates Commander in
Chief Fairchild and the Grand Army OF the
Republic upon bis administration during
the past year. They Recommend the
appointment of Past Commander in Chief
Robt. B. Beach as historian of the order
and endorse the recommendation for q
permanent National headquarters, and
approve the suggestion that the general
Government include in the next decennial
census An enumeration OF the soldiers and
sailors of the late war, who may
be living in 1890. The report
was unanimously adopted with three rous-
ing cheers for Fairchild. The department
of PENNSYLVANIA presented to every dele
gate and other person entitled to seats in
the con vention q memorial bronze medal
ion of Lucius Fairchild. present Comman-
der.in. Chief. The report was adopted
without debate. The report Of the Com
mittees on Return made by various gener-
al officers was read, commenting on their
services. The
COMMITTEE ON RESOLUTIONS
reported back large number OF resoiu.
tions, among them general one in regard
to polygamy in Utah. The committee re.
ported adversely on the ground that the
matter was foreign to the purpose OF the
G. A. R., and political in it's nature. The
report caused considerable discussion but
VAS finally adopted. Vandervoort, OF
Nebraska, and others claimed one OF the
objects of the Grand Army was to encour.
age honor and purity in public affairs. and
that this was strictly in the line OF it's
work. Other resolutions state that
the Government should furnish each
honorably discharged soldier. sailor or
marine on application with his medical rec
ord; that there should be place set apart
by law at the capital where all captured
flags and other trophies Of war may be pre-
served and displayed. The subcommittee
on resolutions, to whom was refer ed the
report of and greeting from the Fifth Ma.
tional Convention Of the Woman's Relief
Corps recommended that the Grand Army
most heartily indorse that auxiliary
order. The work OF the corps is eulogized.
The National Encampment then ad-
journed till tomorrow. 1t will meet
in Columbus, Ohio, in 1888 the week OF
the centennial celebration of the settle
ment of that city.